These are thought to cost the service £128 million per year, NHS England said.

The review, which will take into account the views of patient groups, clinicians and providers, could extend to over-the-counter medicines which can often be bought at a much lower cost without prescription.

Although not included in the current proposed list, NHS provision of items such as paracetamol, suncream, cough treatments and indigestion tablets could be included in future reviews.

The consultation comes following a request by NHS Clinical Commissioners which identified “significant areas” where savings of up to £400 million per year could bemade.

Lidocaine plasters – for back or joint pain – and fentanyl – a painkiller for cancer patients – are among the ten items under the focus of the initial consultation.

Travel vaccines protecting against typhoid, hepatitis A and cholera, and a triple jab for diptheria, polio and tetanus, will also be subject to review.

Mark Littlewood, director-general of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: "Given the financial mess the NHS has found itself in for some years now, it is a wonder these low-cost household products were provided for in the first place - particularly when vital cancer drugs are being rationed.

"While this review is a step in the right direction, it does not go far enough.

"There will need to be significantly more radical cutbacks and a complete rethink of the system in order to achieve a financially sustainable and efficient health service."

Here are some of the items available on prescription that are being considered as part of the consultation:

Gluten-free foods

Around one in 100 people have coeliac disease, caused by a reaction to gluten, that can be treated by cutting the substance from a patient's diet.

Once diagnosed as coeliac by a doctor, patients in most parts of the UK can receive gluten-free staple foods from a pharmacy through a prescription from a GP.

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Some countries require visitors to be vaccinated against diseases such as yellow fever or meningitis prior to arrival, while travellers to some parts of the world are advised to have inoculations against a range of other diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis.

These are not usually available on the NHS and can cost around £50 for a dose.

Co-proxamol

Co-proxamol is used for mild to moderate pain relief is a combination of two active ingredients, dextropropoxyphene and paracetamol, which is typically included as a lower 350mg dose compared with the standard 500mg dose of paracetamol when taken alone.

There is limited evidence suggesting co-proxamol is more effective at treating pain than a regular dose of paracetamol, for either acute or chronic use.

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There have been previous concerns that the drug has been linked to suicides and poisonings and it was gradually phased out from wide use between 2007 and 2007.

Omega-3 and fish oils

Naturally-occurring oils from certain breeds of fish such as salmon and mackerel have typically been prescribed to promote a healthy heart for patients at risk of heart disease.

The fatty acid omega-3 usually comes in capsule form and has been used to help prevent irregular heartbeats and reduce the risk of clotting by making the blood less sticky.

Historic concerns about prescribing omega-3 stem from limited evidence suggesting the fatty acid is effective in capsule form, and little to categorically suggest what a recommended adult daily intake should be.